Folding fire-escape



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. GILLINGHAM.

FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE: No. 468,722. Patented Feb. 9. 1892.

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J. GILLINGHAM.

FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE. No. 468,722. PatentedFeb. 9, 1892.,

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PATENT JOHN GILLINGHAM, OF \VILMINGTON, DEIJAIV ARE.

FOLDING FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,722, dated February 9, 1892,

Application filed August 3, 1891. Serial No. 401,495. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN GILLINGHAM, of \Vilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fire-escapes; and it consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, which will be fully described hereinafter, and more particularly referred to in the claims.

The object of my invention is to construct a fire-escape which can be reached from each story of the house and which when not in use is adapted to fold up in a very compact form against the wall.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved escape applied to the front of a house. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. lar view, the escape being folded. Fig. 4 is a face view of the bracket B. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached View of the spring-latch J.

A represents a series of platforms, which are hinged at their rear sides to the upper ends of the brackets 13. Pivoted to the front of the platform is the upright guard O, which has secured to it the brace D. The lower end of this brace is adapted to slide in a slot E in the front of the bracketB and is held therein by the transverse pin F, which travels in a slot G, formed at right angles to the slot E.

Secured to the upper ends of the brackets 13 are the ladders H, the upper ends of which are adapted to move back and forth in the slotted arms I in the platform A. By means of this construction it will be seen that the escape is readilyfolded into the position shown in Fig. 3, the inner ends of the braces D moving upward in the slots in the brackets, the guard O folding inward, and the upper end of the ladder moving inward in the slotted arms I as the platform A is raised.

Secured to the outer side of the platform is the catch or latch J, which when the escape is folded engages a plate K, secured in a hori-= zontal position to a support on the wall of the Fig. 3 is a simi-' house. The outer free end of the plate is provided with an eye L, through which passes a wire M, which extends entirely across the house.

On each side of the house to which the escape is applied, either in the center or to one side thereof, is secured a vertical plate N. Loosely secured to the front side of this plate is the pole or bar 0, which is provided with the staples P, through which pass the wires M. Stretched across the side of the house are the wires Q, which pass over rollers R, mounted on the plate N and under the rollers R on the bar 0. The rollers R on the bar are lower than the corresponding rollers on the plate N, so that quite a dip in' the wire Q is required in order to pass under these rollers.

Vhen it is desired to lower the escape for use, a pull is exerted on the wires Q, causing the pole O to be raised and with it the Wires M. These wires being thus drawn upward, the free ends of the plates K are also raised, thus releasing the latches J and allowing the platforms to drop into a horizontal position.

It will be seen that by exerting a pull on either of the wires Q at either of the stories the whole system is ready for use. The platforms being connected by the ladders, persons can descend from the upper stories of the building with perfect safety.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. In a fire-escape, the brackets having vertical slots E and G, platforms hinged to the brackets, braces adapted to support the outer edges of the platforms at their upper ends, and lateral projections on the lower ends of the braces, which move vertically in the slots 0 G, the parts being combined substantially as shown and described. 7

2. I11 a fire-escape, the slotted brackets, platforms secured thereto, guards hinged to the outer edges of the platforms, and braces connected at their upper ends to the guards and their lower ends adapted to move vertically in the brackets, the parts being combined to operate substantially as shown and described.

3. In afire-escape, the slotted brackets, plat- [00 forms hinged thereto, braces for supporting the platforms, and ladders loosely secured at their lower ends to the brackets and connected to the platforms at their upper ends and adapted to move inward thereon, the parts being combined substantially as shown and described.

4. In a fire-escape, the slotted brackets, platforms hinged thereto, guards pivoted to the outer edges of the platforms, braces connecting the guards and the brackets, and ladders secured to the upper ends of one series of brackets and the upper ends of the ladders adapted to move horizontally in the slotted arms of the platforms, the parts being combined to operate substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, with the hinged platforms, which are provided with latches, of plates secured to the wall, which are engaged by the latches, eyes form ed on the free ends of the said plates, a wire which extends through the said eyes, and means for vertically moving the said wire, substantially as shown and described. v

6. The combination, with the hinged platforms provided with latches, plates secured to the wall, which are engaged by the latches, a horizontal wire connected to the plates, a vertically-moving pole to which the wire is loosely connected, and means for raising the said pole, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination, with the hinged platforms provided with latches, plates secured to the wall, which are engaged by the latches, a horizontal wire to which the free ends of the plates are secured, a verticallymoving pole to which the wire is loosely connected, stationary rollers on each side of the pole, a roller secured to the pole below the first-named rollers, and a wire which passes over the stationary rollers and under the roller on the pole, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GILLINGI-IAM.

W'itnesses:

WILSON KIMBLE, F. C. HUToHIsoN. 

